Working on Clients who Don’t Normally Wear Makeup

You’ll work with many clients who have had their makeup professionally done before. If they haven’t, they probably have experience doing it themselves so they’ll be familiar with some products and techniques. Occasionally, however, you might work with clients who have no experience with makeup at all. They don’t wear it, they don’t know how to apply it, and they probably don’t own any!

Clients with no makeup experience can be a fun opportunity for you. You’ll practice teaching the basics of makeup and share your love for what you do. You might introduce them to products and techniques that make them feel confident and interest them in doing their own makeup. You might also be met with a little bit of concern and confusion. What are you putting on their face? What does that powder do? Is it supposed to look like that?

Here are seven tips for working with clients who don’t usually wear makeup!

1. Be patient

Getting your makeup done by someone else can actually take some skill, and some people are better models than others. If your client has never had their makeup done professionally and they don’t usually do their own, they might not realize they can help or hinder you. They might:

Purse their lips

Flutter their eyelashes

Tilt their chin up too high

If they do, be patient with them. Gently coax them to:

Relax their face

Look in a certain direction

Help you with in other ways with their body language

You’ll work better as a team if you’re patient with first-time makeup artistry clients.

2. Be careful

You’re a professional, so you know to be careful around your clients’ eyes, nose, and mouth. You want to make your client:

Look great

Feel confident

Feel comfortable during the application, even if they don’t realize their squirming makes your job tough!

Clients who are new to makeup and already feel wary of mascara wands certainly won’t be pleased if you poke them in the eye. They’re more easily scared off by a negative experience than someone who has poked their own eye with a mascara wand and might be more understanding.

3. Be informative

Why not take the chance to teach someone about your art and tools? They’ll be more comfortable if you keep them informed at each step.

Walking them through the process in simple language will make them feel at ease while you work

Tell them about the products and what they’re used for

Like with any client, let them know which part of their face you’ll work on next so they can expect your touch

These clients let you practice for other job opportunities like offering makeup lessons, working at cosmetics counters, doing tutorials via YouTube or Skype, and running workshops.

4. Be approachable

Clients who are new to makeup might be curious and excited, so expect lots of questions! They should feel comfortable asking you for details and you should be ready to answer them.

Remember: What’s common sense for you might not be for others. You’re a professional, after all!

Answer them in a friendly way

Use terms and explanations that they’ll understand

The friendlier and more approachable you are, the more comfortable they’ll feel with the entire experience.

5. Be prepared

During the consultation, ask your clients how frequently they wear makeup. If they have a bit of experience, you might ask them to bring their own foundation to ensure a good color match, just in case the shades in your kit aren’t quite right. If you don’t ask about their experience and then you make this request:

They might buy the wrong product

They might choose the wrong shade

Time and money could be wasted for both of you

If you know they’re not prepared to bring their own foundation, you might purchase one for them that color matches well and is in their price range. You’ll add this cost to the final cost of the makeup application. Having the right products contributes to their positive makeup experience.

6. Be soothing

Some people feel discomfort when they don’t know what to expect. Others just don’t like being touched. Of course, they’ll have to work with you a little since they chose to have their makeup done! Their posture and movements might be rigid, so respect their discomfort. They don’t feel relaxed because they don’t know what to expect. Help them feel comfortable by:

Engaging in small talk if they seem open to the idea

Sticking to necessary communication if chat makes them edgy

Giving them calm guidance about how to move

Offering to answer any questions

Explaining things if they seem uncomfortable at any point

You want new clients to leave your chair feeling great and open to the idea of having their makeup done again (preferably by you)!

7. Be understanding

This is a new experience for your client, so don’t be offended if they question you… a lot! They don’t doubt your abilities; they just don’t understand what you’re doing.

Maybe they’ve never seen how crazy contouring can look before you’ve blended!

Their idea of professional makeup might come from celebrity red carpets and Instagram

They might expect different looks, products, or amounts of makeup as a result

Be understanding of their expectations and where those come from.

Have fun with it!

Working with a client who doesn’t wear makeup can be a fun opportunity for both of you. Show them why you love what you do, how a little makeup from time to time might benefit them, and help them feel confident doing something new!

Have you ever worked with a client who doesn’t wear makeup? Share your experience with us in the comments!